Safety of Omega-3 Fatty Acids

The safety of omega-3 fatty acids for people with diabetes or a bleeding disorder has not been fully established. Since omega-3 can "thin" the blood, you should not take the supplement without checking with your healthcare provider if you have a bleeding disorder. Omega-3 fatty acids can also increase the risk of high blood sugar, especially in people with diabetes.

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Are Omega-3 Fatty Acids Safe? -- An Overview

A normal dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids from food sources is safe and beneficial. However, omega-3 supplements may not always be safe. You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking omega-3 fatty acids if you have:

Any allergies, including allergies to foods (especially fish), dyes, or preservatives.

Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:

Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant

Breastfeeding.

You should also be sure to tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Specific Safety Warnings and Precautions for Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Warnings and precautions to be aware of concerning the safety of omega-3 fatty acids include the following:

There is some concern that fish oil omega-3 supplements may contain toxins such as heavy metals (like mercury) or dioxin, although it seems that taking fish oil supplements may actually be safer than eating fish in this regard. Look for an omega-3 fatty acid product from a reputable manufacturer that has been purified and tested for such toxins. It is a good sign if a manufacturer abides by the rules of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for drugs. It is also a good sign if a product has the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) seal, which means that the product has been independently tested and shown to contain the correct ingredients in the amounts listed on the label. Your pharmacist is a good resource for information about which manufacturers are most reputable.

Omega-3 fatty acids may "thin" the blood, preventing blood platelets from sticking together (an important step in blood clotting). If you have a bleeding disorder, do not take omega-3 supplements without checking with your healthcare provider.

Sometimes, omega-3 fatty acid supplements may increase the risk of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) in people with diabetes. If you have diabetes, check with your healthcare provider before taking omega-3 supplements. You may need to monitor your blood sugar more closely, and your healthcare provider may need to adjust the dose of your diabetes medications.

People with familial adenomatous polyposis have a high risk for colon cancer, and there is some concern that omega-3 fatty acids may make this risk even higher. Some healthcare providers recommend that people with this condition avoid omega-3 supplements.

Omega-3 supplements that are free of toxins are probably safe for pregnant or breastfeeding women (see Pregnancy and Omega-3 and Omega-3 and Breastfeeding). However, omega-3 fatty acid supplements and fish that may contain toxins should be avoided.

People who are allergic to fish or shellfish may also be allergic to omega-3 supplements.

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